Well tool



H. A. BREAUX July 14, 1964 WELL TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 7, 1961 H. A. BREAUX 3,140,668

WELL Tool.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fg/fnwmz' W@ ATTORNEYS July 14, 1964 Filed Nov. 7, 1961 United States Patent O 3,140,668 WELL TOOL Hugh A. Breaux, P). Box 294, Loreauville, La. Filed Nov. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 150,722 9 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 221) The present invention relates in general to a well pump apparatus. More specifically, the invention according to the present application, is concerned with a novel uid release mechanism for use in cooperation with a well pump.

Well pump fluid release tools have been known previously, and have attempted to fulfill the need for a means which will release the well iiuid, such as oil, from the tubing, in order to either raise the pump or tubing, or for any other reason in which a tubing iilled with well fluid would be cumbersome. Previous attempts at providing iluid release tools suffered from one or more disadvantages which proved each of the prior attempts as unsatisfactory.

One of the previous lluid release valves for well pumps incorporated a valve mechanism on the exterior of the tubing of the pump. Thus7 the diameter of the tubing of necessity was limited, in order that the tubing and the exteriorly positioned fluid valve could be accommodated in the casing. This reduction in the diameter of the tubing because of the addition of the valve to the tubing naturally limited the volume of fluid that could be pumped from the well.

Other prior fluid release tools were positioned on the exterior of the tubing of the pump and necessitated contact either with the casing or surrounding tubing for operation of pivoted latches or similar means. These mechanisms were thereby limited to the position in the well in order to be operable by a joint of the tubing `or casing, and again were such as to reduce the size of the well pump tubing in order to permit its accommodation in the surrounding tubing or casing.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a iluid release tool which does not increase the effective diameter of the pump, and therefore, does not limit the size of the pump that can be accommodated in the surrounding tubing.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a iluid release valve for a well pump which does not signiiicantly reduce the volume of lluid that can be moved by the pump.

lt is also an object of the present invention to provide a iluid release means which cooperates with a pump in a manner such that the action of the lluid release valve is positive and direct, without dependence upon the casing or tubing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide simple means for releasing fluid from the tubing, without raising or unseating the pump.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid release valve which in no way contacts either the casing or the tubing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view in partial section, showing the overall pumping apparatus and novel fluid release tool:

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View of FIGURE 1, along lines 2-2,whichshows the details of the standing part of the Well pump having the novel uid release valve in a closed position;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view partially broken away, of the iuid release tool when in the open or iluid release position; l

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FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and showing the iluid release mechanism in the closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5 5 of FIGURE 3, showing the Huid release valve in the open position;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of some of the elements of the fluid release valve.

Referring to the drawing, and FIGURE 1 in particular, the numeral 1th designates the usual casing which is inserted into the ground in a conventional manner. Secured to the top of the casing is a conventional casing cover 12, which receives the tubing 14 therein. The tubing 14 has a suitable outlet, such as 16, through which the iiuid passes for collection at the surface. Through a cap 18 in the tubing, a conventional pump rod 2li is slidably operated by power means, not shown. The pump rod 20 activates the travelling part of the pump 22. The travelling part of the pump comprises a hollow cylinder forming a fluid chamber 24, having at its upper end a conventional valve means such as ball valve 26, held at the top of the travelling part of the pump 22, by means of a spider cage 28, which permits the fluid to pass from the pump into the tubingl 14. The bottom of the travelling part of the pump 22 is thickened at Sil, to form an abutment means. The lower portion of the travelling part of the pump slidably receives the hollow plunger tubing 32. At the upper end of the plunger tubing 32 is a conventional plunger 34, which sealingly engages the sides of the chamber 24 during the telescopic movement of the plunger within the travelling p-art of the pump 22. At the topmost end of the plunger 34 is another ball valve and spider cage 36 and 3S, which forms a one way valve in a manner identical to the operation of the ball valve 26 in the spider cage 23 at the top of the chamber 24.

Secured as `at 4l) to the lower end of the plunger tubing 32 is an extension tubing 42 which includes the novel lluid release tool assembly, shown generally at 44. At the lower end of the extension tubing 42 is secured as at 46 the pump hold-down seal meansl-S which seats in the lower end of the tubing 14, where the tubing is narrowed to form a seat Si). Positioned between the seat 50 and the pump hold-down means 4S is a seal S2, which may be of conventional construction, and is designed to retain the fluid in the tubing 14, to prevent the passage of uid from the tubing 14 at a point between the extension tube 42 on the plunger and the tubing 14.

Also provided on the hold-down seal means 48 and on the extension tube 42 are shoulders 54 and 56, respectively, which determine the proper positioning of the extension tube in the holddown seal means. Conventional seals may be provided for contact with such shoulders.

Within the extension tube 42 there is provided the fluid release assembly 44, which as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, is relatively small in order to prevent any substantial reduction in the capacity of the pump by limiting the flow of uid from the earth through the extension tube 42 and up to the tubing 14. The iluid release tube assembly includes a housing 58, which completely separates fluid within the extension tube 42 from the uid in the tubing 14, except for the opening at 60, which receives a valve housing 62. This housing has an opening 64 at one end, which provides fluid communication from within the housing 62 with the interior of the tubing eXtension 42. Adjacent the opening 64 is provided avalve seat 66, which is designed to receive a ball valve 68 for opening and closing the passageway 70 in valve seat 66. Biasing means, such as a. spring 72, normally urges the valve 68 towards the seat 66. Positioned within the valve housing 62 is a unique valve guideV 74, which is best shown in FIGURE 6. The interior of the valve guide 74 is designed to assure the proper seating and movement of the ball valve during the operation of the iluid release tool. The spring 72 abuts against an end plate 76, which is secured at the end of the valve guide 74. Slidably received through the valve housing 62 in suitable openings 78 on each side of the valve housing, is the activator Si), which is in the form of a bar. The activator 80 is designed to pass through the valve housing 62 and slide across the valve seat 66 in a manner as shown in FIG- URES 2 through 6. The activator Si) is provided at its upper end with a shoulder 82 and with an extension 84, secured as by screws 85 to the shoulder. The extension S4 extends beyond the shoulder and passes through the upper end of the tube extension 42, as at 86, and extends well beyond the end of the extension tube 42, as best shown in FIGURE 2. Strong biasing means, such as spring 88, acts between the valve housing 62 and the shoulder 82 to maintain the activator Si) in the position shown in FIGURE 2.

The activator is provided with a unique elongated slot 90 in the lower end of the activator, and with an enlarged opening 92 at the lower end of the slot. The slot 90 is preferably considerably longer than the cross-section of the valve housing 62, in order that when the activator 8i) is in the position shown in FIGURE 3, the slot will extend from both sides of the valve housing 62 to provide the necessary fluid communication through the housing 44.

The opening 92 must be large enough to permit the ball to pass therethrough to etect complete seating of the ball in its seat 66 when the activator 36 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 6, the upper end of the opening 92 is bevelled to form a cam edge 94 on both sides of the slot 90, and is thus designed to cam the ball valve 68 into and out of engagement with the valve seat 66. When out of its seated position, the ball 68 will ride along the smaller slot 9i). Lug means 96 is provided at one end of the valve guide 74, as shown in FIGURE 6, and is adapted to slidingly engage the activator 80 within the slot 99. It can be seen that by reason of the engagement of the lugs Within the slot 96, the activator will at all times be properly positioned to present the camming surface 94 to the ball valve 68, in order to move the valve from the seat.

Closingr the open side of the iluid release housing 44 is a screen 98, which is designed to keep the interior of the housing 44 free of the dirt and sand that would normally be present in the fluid moved through the seal pump. The screen 98 may be suitably secured to the ends of the housing 44 as by welding at 100.

The operation of the pump and fluid release tool is relatively simple, and therefore, a short statement of operation will sutiice. As shown in FIGURE 2, the travelling part of the pump 22 would be in its upward stroke, thus creating a suction for movement of the well fluid upwardly, as shown by the arrows in FIGURE 2, from the earth below the tubing. In the normal operation of the pump, the fluid would pass outwardly from the chamber 24 through the spider cage 28 by unseating valve 26. As a consequence of this, the entire tubing 14 would be filled with fluid, in order that it may pass from the outlet 16 for collection. If, therefore, it was intended to remove the pump from the well for any reason, the pump does not have to be unseated from the seat 50 at the base of the tubing, which would require a tremendous force in order to overcome the weight of the fluid in the tubing, but rather, through the advantage of the novel fluid release assembly the iluid may be drained in a simple manner.

It should be understood that the travelling part of the pump can move upwardly and downwardl, unobstructed by the activator, and the abutment means 3i) is generally at least twelve inches from the activator 80 during the lowest point of the normal down stroke of the travelling part of the pump. However, when the iluid is to be released from the tool, the operator at the surface can operate the pump rod 20 to pass it downwardly beyond its nodmal limit in the pumping operation, to a point at which the abutment means 3l) strikes the activator 80. At this time the spring 88, which normally holds the activator in the position shown in FIGURE 2, would be overcome and forced downwardly through the valve housing 62 and guided by the lugs 96 of the valve guide 74, such that the ball valve 68 is contacted by the cam 94 on the slot 90. Continued downward movement of the travelling part of the pump urges the activator downwardly, such that the ball valve 68 is moved from its seat 66, in which position it was normally maintained by the spring 72, to a point along the top of the slot to provide fluid communication from the outside of the extension tube 42 through the screen 98 into the housing 44 and along either the upper end of slot 90 or the lower end of slot 90 and then through valve housing 72 into the valve guide 74, and then through the valve seat passage 70 through opening 64 in the valve housing and eventually into the extension tube 42, from whence the fluid may drain out through the hold-down seal means 48 through the tubing 14. After all the fluid is drained from the tubing through the fiuid release tool, the travelling part of the pump may be raised, at which time the activator will return by means of spring S8 to its normal position.

It can be seen that with the present invention the release of uid in the tube may be accomplished quickly and easily with a minimum number of parts, and also by the operation of one individual at the surface.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and modiiications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A well pump in combination with a fluid release assembly for draining a tubing, said combination comprising: a hollow chamber, a plunger slidably operable in said chamber, separate valve means in each of said plunger and said chamber operable upon relative movement of said chamber and plunger to permit uid iiow therethrough, fluid release means positioned below and secured to said plunger, said fluid release means extending radially within the radial extent of said chamber, and operable upon relative movement between said plunger and said chamber, said fluid release means comprising a slidable activator having a cam provided thereon and having a fluid passage extending transversely through the axis of movement of said activator valve means operable by said activator to provide fluid communication to drain a tubing.

2. A well pump in combination with a fiuid release assembly for draining a tubing, said combination cornprising: a hollow chamber, a plunger slidably operable in said chamber, separate valve means in each of said plunger and said chamber operable upon relative movement of said chamber and plunger to permit uid tlow therethrough, Huid release means positioned below said plunger, said iiuid release means extending radially within the radial extent of said chamber, and operable lupon relative movement between said plunger and said chamber, said uid release means comprising a slidable activator cam, having an opening therethrough, said opening receiving therein on one side a Valve means, and a valve seat on the other side of said activator.

3. The construction according to claim 2, wherein a side of said opening is bevelled to form a cam edge to cam said valve means out of said seat into a fluid release position.

4. The construction of claim 3 including a slot through said activator extending longitudinally axially from said opening and in fluid communication with said opening, said slot having width on the surface of the activator less than said opening and less than said valve means whereby said valve means rides above said slot when said activator is in a iluid release position.

5. A well pump in combination with a fluid release assembly for draining a tubing, said combination comprising: a hollow chamber, abutment means at the bottom of said chamber, a plunger slidably operable within said chamber, a irst ball valve at one end of said chamber, a second ball valve at the end of the plunger within said chamber, tubing depending from said plunger, a fluid release means positioned ou said tubing, said release means including a slidable activator extending upwardly parallel to said tubing and engageable by said abutment means, said activator being provided with an opening therethrough, said opening having a bevelled side forming a cam, a slot through said activator extending longitudinally axially from said opening and being in uid communication with said opening, said opening receiving therein, on one side, a third ball valve, a valve seat on the other side of said activator in fluid communication with the interior of said tubing, said third valve having a diameter less than said opening and less than the width of said slot whereby upon said chamber moving said activator downwardly, said third valve is cammed from said seat to provide fluid communication through said tubing to drain said tubing.

6. In a well pump the combination comprising: an upper hollow chamber means and a lower plunger means, valve means cooperating with each of the chamber means and the plunger means to permit iiuid flow therethrough, said upper chamber means being movable and telescopically receiving said plunger means, fluid release means aligned with said chamber means secured to said plunger means and operable by movement of said chamber means to release well fluid tliereabove, said Huid release means comprising a slidable activator having an opening therethrough transverse to the movement of said activator; and a valve means operable by said activator to effect release of the well iluid.

7. The well pump of claim 6, wherein said activator includes cam means adapted to contact and move said fluid release valve means to a fluid release position, valve guide means engaging said activator and being operable to receive said liuid release valve means for movement to fluid release position.

8. The well pump of claim 7, wherein said activator includes a slot in fluid communication with said opening and said valve guide means includes a lug cooperating with said slot to guide the movement of the activator.

9. The well pump of claim 8, including cam means formed within said slot and said slot being longer than the width of said valve guide means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,409 Condra Mar. 10, 1925 1,819,452 Wright Aug. 18, 1931 2,111,173 Cox Mar. 15, 1938 2,128,520 Armstrong Aug. 30, 1938 2,674,200 Howe Apr. 6, 1954 2,997,963 Hatcher Aug. 29, 1961 3.044.414 Chancellor et al July 17, 1962 

1. A WELL PUMP IN COMBINATION WITH A FLUID RELEASE ASSEMBLY FOR DRAINING A TUBING, SAID COMBINATION COMPRISING: A HOLLOW CHAMBER, A PLUNGER SLIDABLY OPERABLE IN SAID CHAMBER, SEPARATE VALVE MEANS IN EACH OF SAID PLUNGER AND SAID CHAMBER OPERABLE UPON RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID CHAMBER AND PLUNGER TO PERMIT FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH, FLUID RELEASE MEANS POSITIONED BELOW AND SECURED TO SAID PLUNGER, SAID FLUID RELEASE MEANS EXTENDING RADIALLY WITHIN THE RADIAL EXTENT OF SAID CHAMBER, AND 